During the off season the Toronto Raptors made what most basketball fans tought was a major coup. They signed high end free agent Hedo Turkoglu. A perfect compliment to Chris Bosh. He would be Scotty Pippen to Bosh's Michael Jordan. Okay...that's a stretch but the idea is the same.
I like the way Bryan Colangelo has been building the Raptors into and ethnically diverse team pulling in players from all over the world to play in one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world. Turkoglu...a Turk...was sold on that and he bit. He was the perfect fit....off the court. On the court, not so much. He showed up for camp out of shape and he's never quite figured out the game plan.
Now they say when you bring in a free agent there's a period of adjustment. Well only 3 players returned to the Raptors from the year before and none of them got the 53 million dollars over 5 years to come to Toronto like Turkoglu did. Give me 53 mill and I'll fit into a skin tight speed-o. (hide the kids...it's not a pretty sight).
Last week Turkoglu said he had the flu...couldn't play Friday night in a 2 point loss to Denver. Okay that's excusable. What isn't excusable is being seen in a bar that same night knocking back drinks.
Maybe Turkoglu took a mental health day. Most of us have done that during our careers. And for most of us what we didn't get done today we can make up tomorrow. Turkoglu can't do that. That 2 point loss on Friday is gone, it's in the books. You can stay as late as you want but you can never make it jup. The Raptors are on the verge of slipping out of a playoff spot. Turkoglu is supposed to be one of their go to guys. He can cruise bars...but he can't play? You would think professional pride would force him to. If not pride then how about the 10 mill a year he's cashing at the bank.
I'm one of those people who will go to work when I should be in intensive care. They say...stay home,..get better. Don't infect the work place with what you're down with. But I always figured I had to be there because there's no one who can do what I can do (apparently my former employers didn't agree with that).
I've never understood a certainly mentality in sports. Watch Joe the Jock...it's his contract year he'll have a great season. Larry Stringbean is coming up for free agency, he'll put up some huge numbers this year. If these guys can do it for a contract, why can't they do it when they get the contract?
Turkoglu's punishment? Benched for the next game, didn't start...but played...the game after that. Strange way to punish a guy who'd rather party than play. If the Rappies had suspended him there would have been a few slices off his 53 million dollar roast. In uniform and not starting doesn't cost him a looney.
One of the fears of giving an athlete a fat, long term. guaranteed contract is that it might guarantee they get fat for the long term. Is that what we're seeing with Turkoglu? He's go 53 million reasons to prove it wrong. So prove us wrong.
It is guys like this and their attitudes which has really turned me off any kind of professional sports. These guys get ridiculous amounts of money to do what?...In baseball, if you are a hitter and you hit 30% of the time, you are doing well. Score 20 goals in 82 hockey games, heres 3 Million for you...Slack off in your regular job as a blue or white collar stiff, heres the door dude, see ya.
I have found myself really getting back into music, especially with Canadian indie artists. They people have tonnes of talent and creativiety, generally are very appreciative of any kind of support, make me feel good, work their asses off, and at the end of the day, hopefully have enough nickels in their jeans to pay the rent.
Jim: My kid is going through the Indie music thing right now. He and a buddy scratched and saved and managed to build their own studio for their band and now they're recording other artists. He aint making much but he loves what he's doing.
On athletes...a Toronto Raptor once said publicly that because the season is so long some players take the night off. They're in uniform but just going through the motions. I always suspected that but for God sakes don't admit it. If I'm paying a couple of hundred bucks for 2 tickets at least give the illusion you're putting out.
I'd pay 53 mil to see you in a skin tight speed-o. Oh wait a minute, I don't have that much money...would you take 53 dollars?
Debs, why does it always come down to money? Doesn't anyone do anything for the sake of humanity. 'Course me in a speed-o could spell the end of humanity.